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Mosquito
F8 Mosquito 43-34926 originally BVII KB315 was the third transferred to the USAAF. Probably taken at de Havilland, Downsview Toronto, Canada Aug 1943.
Another shot of "The Spook". This was taken at Prestwick Field, Scotland, while Maj James Setchell and his nav, Jerome (Alex) Alexander, were flying her to La Marsa, Tunisia. This photo was taken sometime between 6 and 15 Oct 1943. - Maj James Setchell and Spook Prestwick Field Scotland.
The most famous Downsview-built Mosquito was undoubtedly The "Spook", USAAF F-8 43-34926, Photo of her before she became the Spook, taken at Wright field when undergoing testing. Note the exhaust shrouds removed prior to deployment overseas.. According to de Havilland Canada records, "Spook" was originally KB 315, an early B Mk VII model, and the third delivered to the USAAF. Its crew, pilot Major James Setchell and navigator Captain Jerome C Alexander, successfully ferried "Spook" over the North Atlantic route and down to North Africa. Along with another F-8, "Faintin' Floozie III", piloted by Lt Col Karl "Pops" Polifca, it was delivered to the 32nd Squadron, 5th Pursuit Group, 12th Air Force, MTO, at Oran, Algeria, joining Lockheed F-4 Lightnings and RAF Mosquitos in the photo reconnaissance role. The "Spook" was employed in photographing potential targets, troop movements, supply lines, enemy bases, etc., in Tunisia, and then later in Sicily and Italy. Setchell was awarded the DFC for flying through intense flak to complete his mission on Jan. 16 and 17, 1944. Eventually, Lt Col Setchell, while flying an F-4 Lightning was hit by flak and ditched off the Greek coast. Secreted away by partisans he was returned to allied hands in Athens in Oct 45.
"The Spook" 1944. The "Spook" was one of two Downsview-built F-8s that saw action in the Mediterranean in WW II, photographing Axis supply lines, bases and troop movements.
The crew of The "Spook". Aug 1943. Captain Jerome C Alexander and Major Jim Setchell were the crew of The "Spook" which went to the MTO. Setchell was later shot down in a Lightning.
"The Spook" - pilot Major James F Setchell and navigator Captain Jerome C Alexander delivered Mosquito 43-324926 to the MTO via Canada, England, Tunisia, eventually Italy. Nicknamed "the Spook" after Setchell's son, 43-324926 was the only de Havilland Canada built B.VII to be used in a combat theatre by the USAAF. In October the Spook arrived at La Marsa, and by December Setchell and the Spook were transferred to San Severo. On both the 15th and 16th of January 1944 "the Spook" flew through intense flak yet returned with valuable photographic reconnaissance, earning Setchell the DFC.
Group
The 3rd Photographic Group were stationed only briefly in Britain and flew no missions from either Membury or Steeple Morden. They were reassigned to the Twelfth Air Force and undertook photographic reconnaissance in support of operations in the...
Military site : airfield
| Event | Location | Date |
|---|---|---|
| Manufactured | Toronto, ON, Canada | 1943 |
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Toronto, Canada Built. Contract number and date unknown. |
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| Assigned | El Marsa, Algeria | October 1943 |
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Arrived La Marsa. Assigned 32PRS, 5PRG, 12AF. |
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| Ferried | Prestwick, UK | October 1943 |
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Transitted through Prestwick en route La Marsa. |
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| Based | 71016 San Severo, Province of Foggia, Italy | December 1943 |
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Change of base. |
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| Crashed | 19 August 1945 | |
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Written Off Damaged Beyond Repair - Crash landing. |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
|---|---|---|
| 14 August 2017 09:18:00 | Al_Skiff | Changes to description, events and place associations |
| Sources | ||
Production list / mossie.org |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 06 May 2015 18:24:06 | Al_Skiff | Changes to description |
| Sources | ||
Production list / mossie.org |
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| Date | Contributor | Update |
| 14 January 2015 17:31:45 | Al_Skiff | Created entry with serial number, aircraft type, production block number, manufacturer, nicknames, description and events |
| Sources | ||
Production list / mossie.org |
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